5 Features to Look For in a Fiber Laser Marker Machine
Fiber laser marker machines, also known as fiber laser engravers, offer outstanding capabilities for creating innovative designs. They’re flexible enough for various applications and excel at making quality markings on metal and plastic. But before buying a machine, you need to consider several factors to truly take advantage of the many benefits a fiber laser provides.
The Role of Fiber Laser Marker Machines in Modern Industry
Fiber laser marker machines create permanent, precise, and legible markings on a wide range of materials. The control they provide gives them an advantage over traditional methods, such as mechanical engraving, chemical etching, and stamping. This refined control lets you create intricate designs or other markings, including logos, barcodes, and serial numbers.
A fiber laser marker’s core consists of a high-powered laser generated from an optical fiber laser source. You control the direction of the laser upon your chosen material. The laser delivers intense energy that creates localized heating, which affects a variety of materials by:
- Evaporating the material
- Changing the color
- Causing a chemical transformation
The fiber laser beam leaves a permanent mark without contacting the material's surface. This minimizes the risk of wear and tear on the fiber laser engraving machine as well as the risk of damaging delicate materials during the marking process.
Fiber laser machines have become essential in many industries because they work on different types of materials, including:
- Plastics
- Metal materials (including stainless steel)
- Ceramics
- Glass
- Certain organic materials
OMTech fiber laser machines work well on many metallic materials. They reduce cycle time and let you produce applications much faster compared with other fiber lasers, thereby lowering your operating costs and saving you time. This step up in the technology allows operators to achieve new levels of design precision out of reach when using many of the other available hardware tools.
For example, the MP6969-80 fiber laser marker engraving machine provides users with over 100,000 hours of mean time between failures. It uses a solid-state JPT MOPA laser source, containing an optical amplifier that boosts the laser beam to peak power. You can independently adjust the pulse frequency and width to accommodate various materials.
Main Features To Look For in Fiber Laser Machines
The main thing you'll want to confirm when purchasing a laser engraver is the quality of the machine. Here's an overview of the key features to look for to ensure you find a device that best fits your needs.
1. Laser Power and Precision
Laser power is critical to determining a machine’s marking capabilities. Higher-wattage lasers can remove material more efficiently and are better suited for metal-marking projects that require deep laser engraving. Consider the specific materials and applications you need to work with when determining the appropriate laser power.
Beam quality is an essential factor since a higher-quality beam will help you achieve fine, high-resolution markings. Look for a fiber laser marker machine with a small beam diameter of around 0.3 mm or less. Some materials require different pulse settings to optimize marking speed and quality, and a stable and consistent laser source that performs well over an extended period will provide optimal results.
OMTech laser marker machines, such as the MP6969-20-20W and the MP6969-30-30W, provide users with just that. Both models feature a JPT M7 solid-state laser and a Sino-Galvo scanning head and are LightBurn compatible with F0 lenses that allow vivid markings on flat surfaces with less than 1% distortion.
2. Rapid Autofocus Technology
Rapid autofocus technology allows machines to adjust their focal position automatically to leave quality markings on various materials. By contrast, traditional laser machines require manual calibration to ensure the correct focal distance for every job. Rapid autofocus technology eliminates the need for that kind of fine-tuning, therefore reducing the setup time and the possibility of human error.
Another benefit of rapid autofocus technology is that it keeps the laser beam focused on a workpiece’s surface, giving you sharper and clearer markings. It's also adjustable for applications requiring specific marking depths, such as deep laser engraving or surface annealing.
Autofocus is one of the top features of the FM6969-50S-50W fiber laser marker engraving machine. It also comes with an air-cooled laser and a built-in camera that eliminates the guesswork from design creation. This allows you to make quick, easy focus adjustments when needed.
This machine includes EzCad2 software, is compatible with LightBurn software, and features an aesthetic silver design. The FM6969-50S-50W is an excellent solution for anyone looking to perform metal marking and work with hard plastics, tiles, and more.
3. Versatility and Material Compatibility
A fiber marker’s laser source should operate at a wavelength suitable for a wide range of materials. A wavelength of around 1,064 nanometers is versatile enough to use on most surfaces. Also, keep an eye out for a machine with adjustable power settings. Different materials and applications usually require varying laser power levels to achieve optimal results in a faster cycle time.
OMTech offers machines capable of producing high power levels, such as the MP69100-100W, to accommodate projects that utilize materials that require a larger output from their fiber laser marker. With a marking spray, you can use it to create color markings on materials like stainless steel, titanium, and chromium.
4. Intuitive Software Interface
Machines with user-friendly interfaces are just easier to navigate, it's as simple as that. This is especially important for those with little to no experience using a fiber laser engraver. Look for software that integrates with popular design programs, such as AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, and CorelDRAW, since you would benefit from software that also offers graphic design and text editing tools to create or modify markings. Look for features that let you adjust the:
- Font
- Size
- Rotation
- Alignment
5. Durability and Longevity
Look at what materials are used to construct a fiber laser machine. Ideally, the frame or chassis should be metal. Sturdy builds offer structural integrity, contributing to the fiber laser engraver's overall durability.
All OMTech machines are designed and engineered in the USA and meet the standards required to achieve an ISO9001 quality certification. Every machine comes with a 2-year warranty on all machine parts as well as access to the in-house team of OMTech tech support specialists.